THE
Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) is set to launch three new
studies on productivity, growth and a sustainable land transportation system in
Brunei, its executive director said.
Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Hj Duraman, executive
director of CSPS, said that the centre has gotten approval for the three new
studies, which will be conducted in-house and with the help of external
consultants.
Established in 2006, CSPS was set up to
undertake independent and objective policy research and analysis on strategic
issues concerning Brunei, especially those outlined in the country's long term
development plan or 'Vision 2035'.
"These are the topics approved by (our)
board and are the projects that need to be accomplished from now onwards,"
said Dato Dr Hj Ismail.
CSPS has just completed a few studies, with
the latest one on renewable energy. A study on land use is also ongoing.
The executive director said the centre has
been getting "very good feedback and input" about them.
"Of course, we want to achieve higher
economic growth. So with the study on productivity and growth, we want to see
what are the important driving forces for achieving them," he added.
The study on population and manpower will be
done internally by CSPS, but the official said that the centre was still
looking into whether or not the study on productivity and growth would require
the services of external consultants. "In some cases, for example
macro-type studies, we require the expertise from foreign consultants, but we
also do some of the studies in house. There are cases where we simply cannot
avoid involving some people from outside, like expert consultants, as they can
come up with independent views of the studies being made," he said.
Dato Dr Hj Ismail added: "When we do
studies that engage consultants, our own staff are also doing studies, while we
engage various government agencies and our stakeholders from the private
sector."
He stressed that the studies are conducted in
this way so that they are not biased, and don't lack the engagement from people
outside of the study.
Following the completion of the studies, CSPS
will pass on the findings to relevant agencies. In the case of transportation,
it will be to the Land Transport Department under the Ministry of
Communication, and the Ministry of Development.
"CSPS will be very much engaged with our
stakeholders, as well as the public for the importance and benefit of the
country's future. That's why we are looking to engage in very important macro
topics for our upcoming studies," he said.
Senior Researcher at CSPS Dr Diana Cheong said
that the centre's studies require a very high benchmark. "Our previous
energy study is an engineering and technical one which required the global
expertise which Brunei may not have yet. Bur as Dato (Dri Hj Ismail) said, we
still have local researchers and without engaging stakeholders, the study would
not work," she said.
For the study on productivity and economic
growth, Dr Cheong said that the centre will provide a comprehensive measurement
of all levels of productivity related to economic activities; identify
opportunity and constraints towards productivity; and to formulate a
sustainable strategy and roadmap for driving productivity and growth.
"Those are the three main objectives of this study," she said, adding
that CSPS will be looking at the matter holistically and realistically.
"It's not just about how you measure
labour productivity. We are looking at various measurements of productivity,
capital, labour or a concept called total factor productivity (TFP)," she
explained.
Dr Cheong said that TFP refers to the
measurement of an enabling environment, especially referring to the Ease of
Doing Business, levels of education, levels of innovation and research and
development of a country.
CSPS will be paying special attention to
high-growth areas such as Singapore and Korea for the study. "We want to
look for example of best models and practices abroad. To see special references
of ICT (infocommunication technology) in driving productivity," she said.
Noting that Asian countries such as Singapore
or Japan have National Productive Centres, Dr Cheong said CSPS would be looking
into the suitability of having a similar unit in Brunei.
"These are specifically catered to
energising the workers production, improving leadership roles and looking at
how changing mindsets can affect a future that is more productive," said
Dr Cheong.
CSPS's study on population and manpower hasn't
had a finalised terms of reference, but the aim is to find the optimal growth
rate for Brunei's population. "We want to recommend an appropriate
population policy. Currently, it's two per cent (growth) a year, but is that
enough to achieve Wawasan 2035? Is that an optimal population size? And will it
meet the required manpower demand for the next 30 to 50 years," Dr Cheong
said of the areas to be touched on by the study.
She said that this study is mainly an
intelligent study, and will be done mainly by CSPS.
GOH DE NO
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
The Brunei Times
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